The Australians claimed victory six balls after lunch when No.11 Chris Martin was caught close to the wicket by skipper Ricky Ponting off Shane Warne.

The Kiwis, resumed on the final day at 149 for five, and they resisted through the entire morning session, primarily through the spirited batting of Daniel Vettori, who topscored with 59 in 111 minutes.

Vettori was out in the final over before lunch when he holed out in the deep to Jason Gillespie giving hometown hero Darren Lehmann his second wicket with his left-arm spin.

Paul Wiseman remained 15 not out off 37 balls.

Australia proved far superior to the Kiwis and smashed them by an innings and 156 runs in the first Brisbane Test inside four days.

Moreover, every Australian player, with the exception of Kasprowicz, scored at least 50 in the two Tests, even No.11 McGrath for the first time.

Opening batsman Justin Langer was named man-of-the-match for his 215 in the first innings and fast bowler Glenn McGrath was announced as man-of-the-series in a tightly-contested vote.

New Zealand have now lost six of their last eight Tests with their two wins coming against win-less Bangladesh last month.

In contrast, Australia have won eight of the last 12 Tests with three drawn and their only loss to India in Mumbai last month.

New Zealand's last victory over their trans-Tasman rivals was by five wickets in Auckland in March 1993 some 14 Tests ago.

Jacob Oram only lasted until the second over of the day before he tickled one from McGrath to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist with no addition to his overnight score of 40.

His batting partner Brendon McCullum followed five overs later painfully wrapped on the pads by Gillespie and sent limping on his way by English umpire David Shepherd leg before wicket for 36.

Paceman James Franklin, who put on 46 runs for the eighth wicket with Vettori, was out for 13 to a spectacular catch from Gilchrist diving across first-slipper Warne off the bowling of Michael Kasprowicz to leave the Black Caps at 206 for eight.

Vettori played with commendable spirit but threw away his wicket nearing lunch when he should have been more circumspect.

Australia will now play New Zealand in three one-day matches for the newly-struck Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, starting in Mel-bourne on Sunday.

Australia will then play three Tests against the touring Pakistanis in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney and a triangular one-day series with Pakistan and West Indies before heading to New Zealand for a three-Test and one-day series in February-March.